Wanjiru Waweru, Jadetimes Contributor
W. Waweru is a Jadetimes News Reporter Covering America News
Boylston, Massachusetts — Tahanto Regional High School Principal Lisa Sequiera is continuing the decision to maintain MCAS as a graduating requirement for this year’s seniors.
"It is absolutely the most misunderstood piece of legislation,” said Sequeira. “They thought they were voting so that it would vanish, and that isn’t the case.”
In November 2024, Massachusetts voters approved a ballot question to eliminate the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) as a graduation requirement to complete the curriculum in high school. However, public school students continue to take this form of standardized test.
“If the state is going to continue to hold us accountable for those scores, I think it’s important we hold our student accountable,” said Sequeira.
Sequiera and interim superintendent Albert Ganem helps the statewide testing and explained that MCAS is a good measure of student learning and strategy to target instruction.
“That data is very important to us. Seeing how kids are doing. Seeing how they are progressing,” said Ganem. “That will help us determine where our strengths are and where our weaknesses are.”
Ganem addressed the MCAS scores, which support students' earning scholarships and grants at state colleges and universities, and the outcomes could help students be prepared for the future.
“Other communities that might not be our neighbor but have similar populations and have similar students. How are those students doing as well,” said Ganem. “I think it’s important to still use that data to help our kids be high performing students.”
Sequeira explained that she is very impressed with the academic achievements of students, however, moving forward, she is highly concerned about some students who would not take MCAS as seriously if they expressed the results do not count.
“Even though I’ve put out a lot of communication around the MCAS and how important it is and how it’s still a requirement for this year, there are still some groups of students who are like what, we have to take it,” said Sequiera.
Ganem reported during the summer, the district would explain to teachers, students, and parents in order to find more sources to require the policy MCAS exam to make it permanent in the fall.
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